New for 2012
Pat Mitchell and her work Crystal Blaze will join an international group of mosaic artists whose works will be featured and available for purchase in an online auction benefit for Doctors Without Borders at the online auction website: www.BiddingForGood.com.
Before the online auction, there will be a live exhibition of the collected mosaics at the Northville Art House in Northville, MI. The auction begins SEPTEMBER 1st, 2012 and will continue until September 21, 2012.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization which provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.
(March, 2011) Messina Mural Project
A "cyber" mosaic friend (Eve Lynch) sent out a call for mosaic artists to donate panels for a mural project at The Messina Children's Center in South Florida. I sent this little bunny.
She's begun installation and you can see the project HERE.
(used with permission of Eve Lynch, copyright 2011)
(used with permission of Eve Lynch, copyright 2011)
January 21, 2011 -- The creative talents of local artist Pat Mitchell from Menomonee Falls will join an international group of mosaic artists whose works will be featured and available for purchase in an online auction benefit for Doctors Without Borders at the online auction website: www.BiddingForGood.com
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization which provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.
Mosaic is an ancient art form of laying out tesserae, glass, stone, or pebbles, into a picture or pattern of abstract or representational images. Used for centuries as floor and wall ornamentation, and for iconic symbols in many religions, mosaic has seen a resurgence beginning in the last century to not only continue these architectural uses but to develop an acceptance in the world of Fine Art.
The auction collection of 126 mosaic artworks from an international group of 124 artists is a fine example of the diverse creativity in this (re-emerging) art form.
You may register for the Online Auction now at www.BiddingForGood.com
The Online Auction begins April 1st, 2011 at 9am EST and will close April 27th, 2011 at 5pm EST
All artwork may also be pre-viewed at LinSchorr.com
Mosaic Murals!
The first mural completed was called "Swirlendipity I." Each 6 x 6 inch swirl was created by a different artist and then mailed to Lin. She mounted each swirl, created the background to tie the entire mural together, and then framed and hung the mural in the Hospital.
Swirlendipity I represents intersection and divergence, the twists and turns, that life hands each of us. By combining these divergent pieces in to a unified mural, we are reminded of our connection to one other.
"Swirl"
Stained glass and Agate on mesh
"Dryer Vent"
Stained glass and mirror on mesh
There was such a rousing response to the Swirl Challenge that Lin created a second swirl mural to contain all the contributions. The second mural, Swirlendipity II, is warmer in tone and hung on a different floor in the Hospital. Swirlendipity II is a continuation of the first mural's twisting and swirling journey with an emphasis on the brighter, more playful side of life, as represented by the exuberant colors of the swirls and background.
"Blue Ribbon"
This
collaborative effort has now grown beyond swirls.
Lin has
received permission to place four large murals (approx 4 x 6
feet each) at the elevator entrances on all 4 floors of
Providence Park Hospital in Novi, Michigan.
The third mural, a puzzle piece extravaganza of color is called Amuzapalooza. Amuzapalooza is a giant puzzle. Each piece is as separate and distinct as the artist who created it, and yet the completed mural imparts a balanced, connected, and robust assemblage.
Photo courtesy of Lin Schorr
Heartistry is the fourth and final mural created by a global group of mosaic artists. Each heart was created on a mesh background in the individual artist's studio and then shipped to Michigan where it was incorporated into the mural along with a lavish background added by Lin Schorr. Heartistry is perhaps the most literal of the four murals. The subjects of hearts and artistry combine into a loving tapestry of red, white, and silver to remind us of our connection to each other through the one thing we all share – a heart. It now hangs on the Cardiac floor of the Hospital.
Photos courtesy of Lin Schorr
I was also pleased to collaborate with Lin Schorr on the written descriptions of the murals.
Those descriptions have been used on site at the hospital, in print, and in numerous blogs about the project.
The Society of American Mosaic Artist's (SAMA) member magazine (Groutline)
recently published an article on the murals.
This article originally appeared as the cover story in Groutline,
Summer 2010, the quarterly journal of the Society of American Mosaic Artists. Reprinted with permission.
In 2009 I also participated in another collaborative project called Landfill Art - an artist reclamation project. Each artist received a plain hubcap with the instructions to create "art" using the hubcap as a base. There are currently more than one thousand artists participating. Eventually a book will be published detailing the project, as well as a traveling exhibit to showcase how artists from around the world turn landfill waste into art. Any and all funds received from this collaboration will be used in various recycling enterprises.
My contribution to this valuable project is below.
Landfill Princess
2009
Base was a Chevrolet hubcap, and all items incorporated to make her face were recycled or repurposed by me. Items include spoons, tempered glass, beads, bike chain, ball chain, watch and clock parts, keys, padlocks, tie tacs, earrings, an oil can nozzle, copper bb's, volume knobs from a guitar, nails, screws, old necklaces and pins from family members, springs, wires, guitar strings, and various and sundry hardware.
I was honored to participate.
